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0 pointscyberferret9y ago0 comments

But when I pay for a movie ticket or rent in on NetFlix/Apple TV/whatever, I am expecting it to be fiction, and I am mentally prepared to lose myself in the experience. Same with books, theme parks, plays etc.

However, when I follow people on social media, I am expecting something that is a little more 1 to 1, and a lot more real. I am interested in programming, guitars, aviation etc. and follow people with the same passions.

If I have to do extra detective whenever someone posted a picture of some guitar gear, in order to find out whether they posted it because they were really inspired by it, or whether they were paid by a manufacturer to do it, then it really renders the interaction meaningless, and I would rather do without it.

I'll never pay to go see a live music performance if I know the players are just miming to backing tracks. I go to experience the actual process, pain and joy of someone working hard to create music. The odd mistake and off key note all ADD to the performance for me, not detract. It reminds me that we are all not perfect, but we still try to reach out to each other to connect.

If we are all just living in a plastic world now, where we have to question every interaction to ascertain whether it is real or not, then I am not sure I want to participate in that world anymore.

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equalarrow9y ago

Well, honestly, I'm not sure how anyone could expect any of this to be genuine or real.. Sure, there are a lot of normal folks posting normal, routine things on social networks, but Instagram was not purchased for $1b to be a mirror of real life (or is it??). Twitter is a public company, with shareholders and revenue they have to make. While we have all become acclimated to 'free' products and expect them, typically if it's free, you are the product.

I stopped using social media because we probably do have to question every interaction - unless you physically know the person.

I have spent time over the past few years in marketing and nothing in that world is genuine. I bet most people on all the social networks with a significant following are trying to sell something at some point. This isn't meant to be cynical, just realistic. And with (what I've read) 20%+ fake accounts on facebook - what do you think most of those are for? They're not to propel society and humanity forward.

I'm ok not being an easy 'influencer' via likes or follows. I prefer to influence and engage with colleagues and friends is the slow, real world. At the end of the day, I don't have any guilt that I've potentially ripped anyone off and when my head hits the pillow, I don't feel compelled to be checking my phone.

There are ways to not be a luddite and have meaningful relationships through technology helping. But technology being the only driver, in my mind, is just not real.

And I actually build technology every day, so I don't say any of this lightly. My biggest challenge in the coming years is to help my kids find balance when they reach that point of wanting a phone. I am not looking forward to that because the odds are stacked against 'the old guy'..

thesagan9y ago

This is where Fred McFeely Rogers found his calling; when he saw how kids were being affected by commercial television he found is career. Recently I'm having an extremely strong urge to ask the same questions he did and do something about it. I wonder if this is a silly thought, though. I hope not.

Perhaps a kindred soul on HN knows of someone/group working on reaching children in a very authentic way like Mr. Rogers and crew did.

lonewolf_ninja9y ago

Your points resonate with me. In today's social media filled world where technology is probably the only major way for you to keep in touch with friends and family living hundreds of miles away - finding that balance is essential.

Going forward 'technology-life' balance would be the biggest challenge faced by millennials and the future generations.

ryandrake9y ago

You join a platform whose purpose is promotion and advertisement and are surprised when you see promotion and advertisement? Just assume everything on LinkedInstaFaceTwit is an ad and a lot more will make sense.

astrobe_9y ago

> If we are all just living in a plastic world now [...] then I am not sure I want to participate in that world anymore.

People are often worried about being too self-centred, but they really should be worried about being too "others-centred".

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